Calls to stop President Trump’s state visit to UK-NewsCO

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Thousands marched through London on January 21 to voice their opposition to President Trump

Calls are being made to cancel a proposed state visit to the UK by President Trump after he issued an executive order clamping down on immigration to the US.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said it would be “totally wrong” for the visit to go ahead later this year.

A petition to stop it has reached 100,000 meaning it will be considered for debate in parliament.

The visit was announced during PM May’s trip to the US – no date has been set.

‘Extremely upset’

Speaking on ITV’s Peston on Sunday, Mr Corbyn said: “I think we should make it very clear we are extremely upset about it, and I think it would be totally wrong for him to be coming here while that situation is going on.

“I think he has to be challenged on this. I am not happy with him coming here until that ban is lifted, quite honestly.”

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron backed the call. He said: “Any visit by President Trump to Britain should be on hold until his disgraceful ban comes to an end.

“Otherwise Theresa May would be placing the Queen in an impossible position of welcoming a man who is banning British citizens purely on grounds of their faith.”

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Image caption
Protesters have gathered at airports across the US to demonstrate against the executive order

Alex Salmond, the SNP’s foreign affairs spokesman, said he thought the state visit was “a very bad idea”.

Also appearing on Sky News’ Sophy Ridge, he said: “You shouldn’t be rushing into a headlong relationship with the President of the United States.

Mr Salmond said reports Mr Trump was reluctant to meet Prince Charles during the visit were “an indication of the sort of enormous difficulties you get into when you hold somebody tight who is unpredictable, who has a range of views you find unacceptable.”

‘British values first’

Former shadow cabinet member Chuka Umunna also backed the calls to cancel the trip.

“State visits happen at the instigation of governments and, of course, you have got a prime minister who you want to have a decent working relationship with a US president.

“But they need to understand, just as they will put America first, we will put British values first.”

Paddy Ashdown, former leader of the Liberal Democrats, has questioned the state visit on Twitter.

He wrote: “Am I alone in finding it impossible to bear that in pursuit of her deeply wrong-headed policies our PM is now forcing THAT MAN on our Queen?”

Conservative MP for Totnes, Sarah Wollaton, earlier tweeted that the US President should not be invited to address the Houses of Parliament, saying Westminster Hall “should be reserved for leaders who have made an outstanding positive difference in the world”.